Giggsy Praises 'The One That Got Away' Arsenal Youngster

December 5, 2008

Aaron Ramsey looked set to sign for Manchester United in the summer, given we were the team he supported and Ryan Giggs was his idol. However, after Wenger sent out a private jet and promised first team football, Ramsey’s decision was made a lot easier.

Clearly, Arsenal wanted the player more than United. Don’t forget that Sir Alex Ferguson turned up on Giggsy’s doorstep to convince him to sign, whereas for Ramsey, just sent Gary Neville along to try to seal the deal. It’s hardly the ‘star treatment’ we’d offer a player we were desperate to sign. However, Ferguson might live to regret not putting in more effort to sign the youngster, Giggs certainly seems to think so!

“Aaron Ramsey is the focal point and to build a team round him will be the future of Welsh football,” Giggs said. “I seen it straight off as soon as he come on in the Cup final really, just his balance and his touch and his confidence of ‘give me the ball and I’ll make something happen’. That is something that you look for in a player, does he want the ball, does he make things happen – and he does all them things. At 17, 18 that’s when you need to sort of build on your game and you learn every time you go out and train, every time you go out and play you learn something.”

Ramsey turns 18-years-old this month, yet so far, has only made three appearances in the league (43 minutes in all), with a total of nine appearances in all competitions. At the same point in Ronaldo’s career with United, when he was 18-years-old, he was starting every Premiership game for United. There’s only a matter of months separating Ramsey’s age now with Ronaldo’s age when he first joined us, yet Ronaldo was playing far more frequently. Considering Arsenal’s shallow squad, it’s odd that the youngster who was obviously promised more first team football, has played so little.

“Arsenal is a club which always gives young players an opportunity at the highest level of the game,” Ramsey said when explaining his decision to sign for Arsenal over United. Unless by ‘highest level’ he was referring to the League Cup, playing alongside other Arsenal kids, Ramsey was duped, and is still looking for the opportunity to get more than a handful of minutes at a time in the Premiership.

You would imagine that it was harder for a youngster to clock up first team football minutes for Manchester United than it was for Arsenal, but the examples of teenage Ronaldo, Rooney and Anderson, in recent years, suggest otherwise. Our youngsters have won Premiership medals and scored in a Champions League final shoot out, playing regularly at the top level.

It’s not just the big money buys at United that have been given a go though (although it has to be said, the £5 million Arsenal paid for a 17-year-old is hardly getting a player on the cheap!).

We can look at 18-year-old Rafael Da Silva (free) as another benchmark. He has already played in five league games (273 minutes in all), with a total of nine appearances in all competitions.

Even Darron Gibson (free), who most United fans would probably agree doesn’t have what it takes to cut it at United, is close to the same minutes in the Premiership as Ramsey this season, whilst Rodrigo Possebon (free), who missed a month or more through injury, is just seven minutes short of Ramsey’s Premiership football minutes, and would have certainly played more if not for that dreadful challenge by Pogatetz.

Arsenal will struggle to retain their top four place this season, considering the current position in the context of the easier fixtures they’ve enjoyed, which could leave Ramsey regretful, as he’s barely getting a game (and will get even fewer now after losing to Burnley in the League Cup) and wouldn’t have Champions League football. He doesn’t need to look much further than Theo Walcott to see his imminent future, who is still playing a minor role (playing 90 minutes in the league on just one occasion this season, being subbed on or off the field twelve times already this season) after his £5-12 million transfer almost three years ago.

This lad could become a bright star, just as Giggs has predicted, meaning we could live to regret Ferguson’s nonchalance in regards to Ramsey’s transfer. There are plenty of great players in the World though, and for every top player we miss out on, we’ll have another three through the door to fill their shoes. The stakes are a lot higher when a player makes the decision to turn down United though. There aren’t three other teams in this country that replicate our history or success, there won’t be three other opportunities to go back on the decision to reject a transfer to this club.

If in three years time Ramsey has no medals and just 38 Premiership starts to his name, like Walcott, he’ll be wondering what the fuck he was thinking about letting a flashy jet and a promise of more first team football, stand in the way of joining the team he’s grown up supporting and playing alongside his idol, lifting a trophy or two along the way.

49 Comments

Your obsessed with us aren't you Scott?
You know what you have written is nonsense, in much the same way that people were saying the same about Walcott last season. He is now a regular in our team and Ramsey will be by this time next year.

You children are so bitter. If you attempted to use your brain for anything other than point scoring you may have noticed that it is the easier games we tend to slip up in. If I was in your position i'd be more concerned that my own team appear to have lost the ability to beat the 'big 4'. One point from 3 games against the other CL teams isn't the best of returns is it now?

Besides, you're totally wrong. Ramsey's seen about as much first team football as Eduardo had at this point last season - he's played a fair bit of Champs League football as well. There's an acclimatization period for nearly all new players.

Cristiano (there's only one Ronaldo and he ain't Portuguese) came from Sporting - a side that plays and coaches to a relatively high technical standard. Ramsey has come from Cardiff and a little catch-up time is needed.

A bit of sour grapes. It's kind of hard to play a seventeen year old at cm in premier leauge. And don't forget we wanted to loan him back to Cardiff. I've seen Ramsey a couple of times and I would love to have him on our books. Fergie clearly made a mistake there.

Yes Scott he is and has also managed to break into the national side. When he came to us he started with subs roles and in the Caring Cup, and now he starts and will be subbed due to Wenger not wanting to burn him out. In fact he has probably been played more than the manger wanted due to injuries. Starting games week in week out generally confirms a player as a regular in the team.
Fabregas was a regular in our team since 17, that's because he was ready. Rooney was also paying first team football at that age for the same reason. Unless Ramsey is not good enough, he will be playing regularly for us, sooner rather than later. I know in your eyes Utd are pretty much perfect and all other clubs pale in comparison, but just accept that the player joined us over you and you don't have to go into an in depth analysis of why this happened.
You argument is contrary beyond belief!!!

Yeh Gooner77, but THREE YEARS have gone by. THREE YEARS of Carling Cup appearances. I'm sure that's not the deal Walcott or Ramsey were offered. THREE YEARS later, he doesn't even get 90 minutes in the league.

Walcott turns 20 in a few months time and you think your manager is scared of burning him out? Talk about wrapping him up in cotton wool. Rooney has been playing Premiership football week in week out since he was 16, Giggs since he was 17, Ronaldo since he was 18... hasn't done them any harm. In fact, I think one of them just won some award or somet, and they all have a medal or two at home.

If Wenger has the same cotton wool plans for Ramsey, then I imagine he'll be disappointed, as that is not the reason he signed for Arsenal.

If I'm going to be accused of not doing my research, then I will spend 2 minutes to look at Walcott's readily available stats, yes. Just because Gooners aren't bothered about being wrong, I won't allow myself to be shown up in the same way.

Calm down Scott, you're making us look bad. Both Ramsey and Walcott would get a lot less playing time at us, that's for sure. I would love to have Ramsey at OT but we have plenty of players who can be just as good. There's no need to write articles about Ramsey, the Arses love it when we write about them.

EC you twat, you say 'get a life and leave us alone'??? This is a United Blog you fucking moran!!! If you want to be left alone, fuck off back to a Gooner blog. Same old Gooners shite on here, moan moan fucking moan.
And you say Rooney is 'not all that', well that sums up your football knowledge, you tit. So who is all that? Bedtner? Van Persie? Gallas?

That Boy Neville, are you on drugs? Scotts not making us look bad, he's stating his opinion, and throwing out facts to suuport that, its the way you build an arguement???
This article was written cause Giggs brought it up in an interview, not cause Scotts doing a player profile on random Arsenal players.

Very sorry there Steve, I lost the run of myself there. I hope my bad language didnt offend you in any way?
Thats a good point you make... Scott can you please stop writing articles on this Blog favoring United in a bias way, and start writing articles that state how great Arsenal are please?
And Steve, what was derogatory exactly? he states Ramseys playing time as facts? The lad isnt getting much game time. And chances are ye will struggle to stay in the Top 4 after some of your results this year, thats his opinion (and mine). If it makes hard reading, then tough fucking titty...

North stand
It's a bit early for drugs, thank you very much;) I just think the article come across as a bit bitter. The argument is flawed. A 17year old can hardly expect to start a lot of matches at cm in a top 4 club. To suggest he has been fooled is just plain silly. Maybe it would have been better for him to come to us but then he would still be playing in Cardiff. He has played in CL, PL and the Carling cup for Arsenal. I teenager could do worse. But why are we even discussing this? He signed for Arsenal, let's move on. Write an article about Welbeck, Possebon or the twins. That would be interesting.

Fair enough Scott. That does only take in league appearances though. 343 minutes for a 25 year-old striker may seem slim before you take acclimatization into account. Ramsey's started in a couple of Champions League appearances - pretty good for a 17 year-old. Add to that the fact that he's having to make the step up from a lower level, and I think he can feel pretty comfortable with his choice so far. I think it's safe to assume he'll be a top player for Arsenal.

Fair enough Neville, I see what your point is, but this article was written cause Giggs was commenting on the lad, so then Scott went on to show that the lad wasnt playing all the first team football promised by Wenger (yet). Its a piece written for United fans to mull over, thats all, and I found it a good read. Obviously not so for the Gooners, but thats what Arsenal sites are for. It is a bit early for drugs alright lad, wouldnt mind a cold beer though...

Nothing wrong with writing about Ramsey given Giggs' interview. He will become a world class player within 2 years, Wenger will of pointed to the recent examples of Fabregas, Clichy and Walcott and Ramsey thought he'd get more of a chance at Arsenal.

Scott - The fact Theo is frequently substituted does not change the fact that when fit this season he has started most matches which makes him a regular in the managers eyes. Bergkamp was frequently substituted, you saying he wasn't a regular?

If you look at the two teams as a whole we are talking chalk and cheese. Utd's spending dwarfs Arsenal's and in Wengers time what he has achieved on the relative budgets is incredible. On average every year Utd spend more on one player than Arsenal would on all their summer signings! Rio, Carrick, Rooney, Veron, Nani, Anderson, Hargreaves, Berbatov, Ronaldo, Saha, etc etc Yes we signed a few at £12-13m but not £20m's and £30m's.

Different ball game, although our income now rivals any, with the new stadium being built it is amazing we are where we are now. 4 or 5 years in the history of a club is easily forgotten, and our time will come again, just as Liverpool's eventually will too and just as you will at some point in the future go 3/4 years without winning something. Just enjoy the ride, go to the games, support your team and as a group lets be more worried about the direction the game is going with the likes of Abramovich etc playing around with the game we love.

“Arsenal is a club which always gives young players an opportunity at the highest level of the game,” Ramsey said when explaining his decision to sign for Arsenal over United. Unless by ‘highest level’ he was referring to the League Cup, playing alongside other Arsenal kids, Ramsey was duped, and is still looking for the opportunity to get more than a handful of minutes at a time in the Premiership."

- So starting two CL games and 3league cup games is not good enough for a 17year old?

Are you seriously suggesting United give yungsters more chances than Arsenal?

Rafael only gets minutes because your other two right backs are injured and crap.

Giggs? How many years ago is that.

Rooney is a one off for United- regarding the last ten years.

Ramsey was spot on with his choice, would have rotted in United, and never become as good as he is going to be.
The fact that Giggs says he will be a star should be enough for you.
I'll wager my life that Ramsey becomes a bigger star than Gibson or Rafael.

United should keep to buying over priced gold, we'll find the diamonds in the rough.

You said 200mins actually it was 176 blah blah blah! Those minutes mean nothing unless you aer comparing players inteh same position in the same team. Age, injuries to other players, depth of squad etc etc... spouting the number of minutes a player has played at 17 does not give any indication of his talent unless it is put into context.

you calling the League Cup with Arsenal's youth team 'the highest level'? Really?

I see you conveniently forgot about Ronaldo, the lad who's been playing week in week out for us since he was 18, and is now officially the best player in Europe. No, we don't give kids a chance at United because we heard once that you never win anything with them...

*sigh*

Steve -

1. Where did I question Ramsey's talent? The only time I even refer to his talent is to say he's a quality player. I'm not sure why you thought me quoting the minutes played had anything to do with my opinion on his talent. Care to explain?
2. It's nothing about 'petty' one-upmanship, rather my belief that Ramsey will regret signing for Arsenal over United, with his reason being the promise of more first team football, which so far, he isn't getting. Maybe in 3 years, he'll be subbed on and off every match like Walcott.
3. Who are you to determine the football debate on this blog?

You address the slightly erroneous comparison I made in building my argument, (although you do simplify it to league appearances, without taking Champions League and League cup into account), but not the argument itself.

That's to say, given the step-up the lad has had to make, the time it takes for players to adapt to Arsenal's style and his age, I think Ramsey's made excellent progress. Two Champions League starts is pretty rare for a 17 year-old. I say you're totally wrong to suggest otherwise.

like you said scott ramsey made his choice he's got to lie with it. I bet he'll regret his choice not to join his boyhood team in three years if wenger continues to show a lack of ambition. You have to admit that arsenal fans, you pay all that money and the manager refuses to spend it on improving the team. Sure you beaten us and chelsea but spurs have taken points off you, chelsea and the dippers they aren't top four??

@ThatBoyNeville, thanks mate for showing perspective on this.
This is a ridiculous argument Scott your obviously bitter that he didn't sign for you. God knows why, you're the English and European champions with plenty of good players, yet your obsessed by the one that got away and your obsessed by us. Your a very pedantic man. You know as well as I do that Walcott plays more than carling cup games are offering misleading stats to try and back up your argument. Just let it lie mate.
As for the cotton wool treatment, how the hell do you know how to nurture a player? Michael Owen has had a pretty much injury ravaged career after an extremely promising start due to over playing early on, ditto Robbie Fowler. Fabregas like Rooney, Giggs etc was ready so he played. Anelka broke into the first team at 19. All players are different, you must realise this and are too stubborn to back down or just felt like a rant in Arsenal's direction.
I've stated on this bog several times that I accept you lot are a better side than us, I have no qualms. I'm a Arsenal fan and football fan and like most football fans accept that to even see your team win the title once in your lifetime is fortunate as many fans of many teams never even get to see their team in a final. I've been fortunate enough to witness both. I guess as a Utd fan you have been so spoilt by success you no longer acknowledge this point. However I'm sure there are Utd fans out there who remember their barren spell too. Not all onine blogs regarding temas are as biased as yours. Check Myles Palmers far more balanced analysis than yours.....

Gooner77 - I have no idea how to nurture a player, but I know of a man who does... Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ramsey signed for Arsenal for more first team football, not to be nurtured. He wants to play. If he has to wait three years like Walcott, he might regret his decision. That's not me saying Wenger is wrong in not giving many starts to these players, rather he's wrong to promise it then not fulfil that promise.

If you have such a problem with the way I write and my bias WHY DO YOU KEEP COMING BACK? The excuse of "I saw it on NewsNow" doesn't cut it. You know how I write, yet you just can't resist coming on here to read what I say. It's an unhealthy obsession for you. If you like the blogger on ArsenalNewsReview, then just stick to reading that, instead of coming on here and ranting on about the same things and criticising me for saying things you know I'll be saying before you even click on the link to come here.

I'm questioning whether Ramsey will regret his decision to turn us down. It's a United blog, I'm fully entitled to question that. It's not about being bitter, as you know as well as I do we'll have better players through our doors than Ramsey, rather me responding to comments our most decorated player has made. If you don't like it, then don't come here. It's not rocket science pal.

Scott... seriously people taking things far too seriously on this blog and that is set by your constant refering back to stats all the time to back yourself up. Thats fine when writing an article but whats the point in slaping others around the face with it... doesn't encourage quality debate does it?

I am a gooner but it is good to be able to have sensible debate with other supporters without all the nitpicking. Insinuating that he will regret not joining Utd well... your opinion i guess. But i doubt he'd be in your starting 11 regularly next season and yet he may well be in ours.

I'd rather hear your thoughts on things such as would Utd get more out of Berbatov if you played Tevez off him and not Rooney. Rooney is class but Tevez is more mobile and would give berbatov more options ahead of him and a sharper give and go. Think Rooney likes having a quick forward ahead of him who forces the defensive line back giving him space to shoot from distance and thread balls through.

Steve - No disrespect, but I don't actually care what you'd rather hear me talk about. I don't write for Arsenal fans. If you want to read United blogs that cater to your needs, then this isn't the blog for you. Toodle oo.

that arsenal blogger is entitled to write about ronaldo, but this article is about giggs' statement on ramsey. it's not a dig at arsenal, it's scott writting his views on what giggs is saying. your entitled to your opinions, and i'm sure ramsey will become a good player, but if it get's to the point of insults and moronic statements just save them for your arsenal blogs

you calling the League Cup with Arsenal’s youth team ‘the highest level’? Really?"
- In games agains opposition of Championship and PL-standard, yes. He has to prove even more as one of the best players on the field with the youngsters. Why is there a difference between meeting Wigan in the League and the League Cup? Also, he probably wouldn't even get League Cup games with United, as you lot take the cup (semi-)seriously.

Also, you conveniantly forgot about his Champions League games.

"I see you conveniently forgot about Ronaldo, the lad who’s been playing week in week out for us since he was 18, and is now officially the best player in Europe. No, we don’t give kids a chance at United because we heard once that you never win anything with them…"
- Again, How long ago was that? And how many of them were 17??

But I'll give you Ronaldo. And how much did you pay for him and Rooney combined? And how many games had they played on the highest level before arriving at Old Trafford?

Face it, you buy the (almost) finished product, and the kids know that. There's nothing wrong with that, if you have the dosh.

Ramsey was spot on in his choice. Do you seriously believe that he would have become the same player had he chosen United, as he is likely to become in Arsenal?

Sure it's a Utd blog but of course Arsenal fans are going to read it when you are discussing our club and players. What are you a cult? Do you only hang out with your Man Utd mates and talk about Man Utd issues? Jesus, my point is that none of your arguments are balanced, just like some of the Arsenal blogs I come across which are totally unbalanced as well. You strike me as a pretty intelligent guy, but seem to have a problem with offering a genuinely reasonable argument, but hey that's the internet for you, it allows for any tom, dick or harry to voice their opinion no matter how inaccurate or unbalanced their argument is.

Bone 8
Ronaldo had played 25 games in the Portuguese league before United, as well as 3 games in Europe. He came to United and played every game he was fit for aged 18. He cost us £12 million, the price you'll end up paying for Walcott.

Compare Walcott aged 20 to Ronaldo aged 20, who is better? What do you know about what a player is LIKELY to turn out as? When was the last time Arsenal turned an 18-year-old in to the best player in Europe? Erm.

Gooner 77

Erm, no, we're not a cult. I questioned why you continued to return to read a blog you don't like reading. You criticise it every time you come here. Why put yourself through it? There are loads of Arsenal and Liverpool blogs I've stumbled across in my time. Some of them I think are good, some of them I think are shite. The ones I think are shite I don't return to, whether they come up on NewsNow or not. I wouldn't waste my time.

You don't think my arguments are balanced, brilliant. This is a United blog. I'm not striving to write from a neutral point of view. Some United bloggers might strive to be completely neutral, I don't. I write with red tinted specs, which you don't like that, so stop coming here.

Why was he spot on? Nobody knows that, if the lad was good enough he would have shined at any club.
Was Nani, Anderson, ronaldo, Rooney the finnished product were they fuck, we buy young talent but unfortunatly we pay over the odds.

bone 8, where as a kid do you learn palying in a team that you play with week in/out with the reserves? the point of first team football is playing in the first team, with players you can learn off. It's not just about who you play. look at jonny evans, he's partnered ferdinand, vidic and neville at the back this season which would benefit him more than playing next to cathcart each time.

granted we do sign the nearly finished article, but what would you call diarby, denilson, fabregas, nasri- players you brought in but were cjust as close as ronaldo and rooney. But no it's the football club that shapes the players like we have with rooney and ronaldo

Fucking bang on there Scott. You're repeating yourself at this stage with these Gooners. No one here said Ramsey isnt (potentially) quality, it was an observation as to the reasons why the kid would be better off at Arsenal, a theory that at the moment is dubious, but maybe in time it will prove true. Its an informative piece written for the entertainment of us United fans, and it did that. End of story I would hope.

Scott:
"Ronaldo had played 25 games in the Portuguese league before United, as well as 3 games in Europe. He came to United and played every game he was fit for aged 18. He cost us £12 million, the price you’ll end up paying for Walcott.

Compare Walcott aged 20 to Ronaldo aged 20, who is better? What do you know about what a player is LIKELY to turn out as? When was the last time Arsenal turned an 18-year-old in to the best player in Europe? Erm."

- Your making an apple pie out of one apple.

Sam:
"bone 8, where as a kid do you learn palying in a team that you play with week in/out with the reserves? the point of first team football is playing in the first team, with players you can learn off. It’s not just about who you play. look at jonny evans, he’s partnered ferdinand, vidic and neville at the back this season which would benefit him more than playing next to cathcart each time.

granted we do sign the nearly finished article, but what would you call diarby, denilson, fabregas, nasri- players you brought in but were cjust as close as ronaldo and rooney. But no it’s the football club that shapes the players like we have with rooney and ronaldo"

- Ramsey trains with the first team, and plays more with them than the reserves. He's only been at the club for half a year or less. And Evans doesn't play much more than Ramsey, not at all if you count the CL.

Diaby and Denilson are far from Rooney and Ronaldo standard, but they had played far less when they came. Nasri had played a lot and I don't believe any Arsenal-fan would question that he was more a finished product when he came.
Fabregas hadn't touched first team football in Barca when he came.

I get your idea, I just don't agree with it.

I think there is -almost- Universal agreement that Ramsey is better of developing in Arsenal.

my point about evans (who has played quite a few more minutes than ramsey this season) is that he's going to learn more in a match environment playing with experienced pro's. Granted training with the first team is a higher standard than the reserve league but i just feel the point of first team football is that you play with the first team players who will direct you and educate you through a proper 90 minutes against other first team oppostition. I don't see how your going to learn playing next to someone at the same stage in their career as you, and is concentrating on their own game because like you they want to break through.

Fuck of all you tossers this is our website and we would write whatever we want who the fuck cares about Le arse...Scottie stop replying to these frickin deutschebags..frickin titty cunts..frickin french whores...

we will write whatever we want on our blog. who cares what arsenal fans wants to read? who cares about what they think?(that is if they think) who cares about what is universally accepted? we only care about what bodes well for man united and that is final. if you do not like what we keep writing here, stay away and read those club blogs that are neutral. we are not neutral and we will not be neutral. for your information, we are biased and we are not going to repent. if you are not okay with that JUST STAY AWAY!!! you will do yourself a lot of good if you stop coming here to get headaches over that kindergatten football club. one more thing, WE DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU TALK MUCH LESS WHAT YOU THINK!!!

I am not surprised that Arsenal fans are coming here to read about a real football club what with how utterly shit they have been this year. bye bye top four!!
Hows them apples?? bitter to the taste aint it.
Facts are facts and the truth is that Arsenal does give young players a go but only if they are FRENCH or Fabregas making him the exception to the rule and walcott is very fucking far from a regular you knob jockeys.
They all leave the arse in the end.
But as Barcelona and Real found out the only thing that comes out of an arse is an overpriced french turd!! (Henry, anelka).

Some of you really are morons aren't you?(That applies to certain Utd and Arsenal fans posting on here)
I'm assuming that some of these more moronic comments are from children, as it would be pathetic for grown men to chat some of the nonsense I've read on here.

Olusanjo, MarkedMan72, Wilfred - your comments are truly ignorant and I imagine that you would only even use such bravado/language from behind the safety of your computer screens, or within the safety of a large mob of people. We're talking about football here, can you not have a discussion with another clubs fans without resorting to playground level abuse? Get a life!!!!

Get a life? I've just skimmed read about 30 comments from you on a United website about about Aaron Ramsey....this is all a bit ridiculous, and anyway Ramsey will probably be playing a lot more for Arsenal in a couple of years because I can't see Fabregas hanging around to play UEFA cup football....now there's some nice reasoned debate for you mate

The truth is we wasting time arguing with people whose are anti-ManUtd.I have simple way on dealing with this kind of problem.I got a lot of friend that doesn't like Man Utd but I don't care.I love BPL rather than other league & love to see more youngster break into the first team.What Scott said is right,if you don't like others club why should you be writing in those club blog.As a fan I doesn't care what other said about Man Utd but what a fan should do is give support & encouragement to the youngster.They are the future & if we don't do it,we would be watching others sport bcause the football we known would be dead.I never comment on others club blog bcause i don't need to since there's a Man Utd blog site for reading & writing comment